Background: Numerous epidemiological studies reported a close relationship between smoking and the occurrence of dental caries. Purpose: To investigate the distribution of tooth decay, lost teeth, and fillings among adults of different smoking habits in Mosul City. Methods: A total of 400 people aged 20–40 years were randomly selected from 30 coffee shops in Mosul City and were divided into 8 groups of 50 participants each, as follows: male non-smokers; male cigarette smokers; male e-cigarette smokers; male hookah smokers; male cigarette + hookah smokers; male e-cigarette + hookah smokers; female hookah smokers; female non-smokers. Participants were examined using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Results: The cigarette group had the greatest average decayed tooth value, followed by the e-cigarette and the hookah group, which had the least. The highest DMFT values were obtained in the cigarette group and the lowest in the hookah group. Missing teeth were highest in the cigarette + hookah group. Hookah-smoking women had significantly higher tooth decay than non-smoking groups. There was no significant difference in missing and filled teeth. Women had more decayed teeth on average than men when smoking hookah. Cigarette-smoking men had the highest percentage who answered “no” to brushing teeth, and the majority of men in each group answered “no” to the use of auxiliary aids. Women in the non-smoking group brushed their teeth on a more regular basis than women in the hookah group, with no difference regarding the usage of auxiliary aids. Conclusion: Smoking increased caries and DMFT values in both men and women.

Background: Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of difference 34 (CD34) in ameloblastoma has been noted. Both proteins are markers of angiogenesis that play a role in supporting the growth of ameloblastoma. The existence of histopathological types of ameloblastoma allows for differences in behavioral and growth characteristics. Purpose: To evaluate the differences and correlation of VEGF and CD34 expression in histological types of ameloblastoma. Methods: This laboratory cross-sectional study uses total sampling from histological slides of mandibular ameloblastoma. Two observers manually quantified the immunohistochemical expression. The comparative data were analyzed statistically with the Kruskal–Wallis test (p < 0.05), while the correlative data were analyzed with Spearman’s rho (p<0.01). Results: 32 samples were obtained according to the inclusion criteria. The Kruskal–Wallis test showed significant differences in VEGF expression (p = 0.003) and CD34 expression (p = 0.026). The pairwise comparison test showed that VEGF expression in follicular ameloblastoma significantly differed from plexiform (p = 0.001) and combination (p = 0.002). The pairwise comparison test for CD34 expression showed a significant difference between follicular and combination ameloblastoma (p = 0.007). Spearman’s rho test showed a positive correlation (p = 0.001, r = 0.565) between markers. Conclusion: Follicular ameloblastoma expressed higher VEGF than plexiform and combination ameloblastoma. Follicular ameloblastoma expressed higher CD34 than combination types. CD34 expression is associated with VEGF in histological types of ameloblastoma.

Background: Maxillofacial fractures are rare in children. The treatment of fractures in children differs from that of adults due to the growth process of the jaw and dental development. The intraoral approach does not result in facial scars or nerve injury. Furthermore, it allows direct visualization of occlusion confirmation during the plate placement. Purpose: This case report describes a pediatric comminuted mandibular fracture that underwent open reduction with an intraoral approach. Case: A 13-year-old boy with a mandibular fracture was referred by the neurosurgery department. Clinical examination found a hematoma in the left submental region and discontinuity of the mandibular symphysis without a wound in the extraoral region. Coleman's sign and a vertical step between teeth 41 and 31 and teeth 33 and 34 with anterior open bite were found intraorally. A CT scan disclosed more than two fracture lines that involved the mandibular symphysis and a basal triangle fracture. The patient was diagnosed with a symphysis mandibular comminuted fracture with open bite malocclusion. Case management: Open reduction and reconstruction plate placement with an intraoral approach was performed under general anesthesia. The patient had no complaints during the two-month evaluation, and the plate was planned for removal in the third month postoperatively. Conclusion: In this case, open reduction with an intraoral approach was able to restore bone architecture without functional or aesthetic complications. This may be because the patient could be treated like an adult, as he had almost reached skeletal maturity due to his age. However, periodic observation is necessary to evaluate jaw growth.

Background: Full-mouth rehabilitation of multiple caries can improve the quality of life. The selection of appropriate restorations on caries and teeth that have undergone post-endodontic treatment is critical to treatment success and enhances the quality of life. Purpose: This case report presents a full-mouth rehabilitation of a patient with multiple caries. Case: A 30-year-old man complained of multiple caries and pain in the posterior mandibular tooth, especially when eating and drinking (cold and hot), which interfered with his activities. The clinical examination found caries in teeth 16, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 36, 37, and 38 and a retained root of tooth 46. The percussion and biting tests were negative, while the sensibility test was positive. Case Management: Severe caries found in tooth 37 was managed with endodontic treatment and an indirect onlay restoration with lithium disilicate-based material. The retained tooth of 46 was extracted and restored with a partial denture. The other teeth, 16, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 36, 37, and 38, were treated by direct composite restoration. Holistic treatment was performed on all the problem teeth to support oral hygiene and was followed by dental health education. Conclusion: Full-mouth rehabilitation is essential for oral hygiene and can improve the quality of life. Education on maintaining oral hygiene is a must for protecting oral health.

Background: One of the benign tumors of the salivary glands is Warthin’s Tumor (WT), which consists of cystic bilayer papillary epithelial cells accompanied by the presence of a lymphoid stroma. Several cases have been reported to turn malignant. One of the markers developed to identify tumor proteins is fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1). Along with lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3), FGL1 establishes an immune checkpoint pathway that plays a role in the mechanism of tumor immune escape. Not much has been reported regarding FGL1 expression in WT, but some studies have reported that its expression is associated with tumor growth. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the location of FGL1 expression in WT and its relation to the mechanism of tumor immune release through the interaction between FGL1 and LAG-3. Methods: Cases of WT (n = 11) and breast cancer (n = 1) were used as positive controls. All cases were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Recombinant Anti-FGL1 antibody. The FGL1 expression was observed in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and lymphoid stroma. The results are presented in the form of figures. Results: All cases of WT expressed FGL1 in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and lymphoid stroma. Its expression in the cell membrane and cytoplasm is possibly related to the process of tumorigenesis and the increasing size of the lesion. Additionally, its expression is seen in the lymphoid stroma, which is closely related to immune escape by inhibiting lymphocytes against tumor cells. Conclusion: Warthin’s tumor cells express FGL1, and this expression plays a role in tumor immune escape mechanisms and tumor growth.

Background: Previous research studies have found the persistence of various COVID-19 symptoms even after the patient tested negative on a PCR test; this incident is now known as long COVID. These long COVID symptoms are reported to appear in the oral cavity including long COVID effects on periodontal disease, as both long COVID and periodontal disease release similar proinflammatory cytokines such as Acute phase proteins, CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-g. Purpose: This study aims to show periodontal-disease severity-frequency distribution in COVID-19 survivors with long COVID and in non-COVID-19 patients. Methods: Patients’ secondary data in the Periodontics Clinic Faculty of Dentistry at Trisakti University Dental Hospital (n=40) consisted of 20 samples from COVID-19 survivors who experienced long COVID and 20 samples from the non-COVID-19 group selected according to the inclusion criteria. Afterward, the data was recapitulated and processed into a research report. Results: The distribution percentage of generalized gingivitis was highest in non-COVID-19 patients, while generalized periodontitis was highest in COVID-19 survivors with long COVID. Based on periodontitis staging and grading methods, it is not proven that long COVID increases the severity of the periodontitis. Conclusion: This research shows that the distribution of gingivitis in COVID-19 survivors with long COVID has not increased. Meanwhile, the distribution of general periodontitis increased in survivors with long COVID. However, there was no increased severity of periodontitis based on the staging and grading method of periodontitis in the COVID-19 survivors with long COVID.

Background: Regenerative periodontal surgical therapy faces significant challenges due to the limited ability of the body to regenerate damaged periodontal tissue. One of the primary goals in regenerative periodontal therapy is regaining periodontal tissue attachment after destruction by periodontal disease. Currently, stem cells, harnessing three pivotal components—cells, biomaterials, and growth factors—are widely used in periodontal regeneration. Stem cells can be obtained from various sources, either by isolating cells from bone marrow, teeth, and muscles or through the somatic cell programming method (reprogramming) known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Purpose: This review aims to describe the potential use of iPSCs in the treatment of periodontal defects. Review: Search strategies were developed using the PubMed, LILACS, Scielo, and Wiley online databases during the period of 2012–2022. Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. iPSCs were obtained by inducing somatic cells from both dental and non-dental sources with factors Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. Periodontal tissue regeneration procedures can be augmented with iPSCs. Unlike tooth-based stem cells, iPSCs offer several advantages, such as unlimited cell sources and the capability to differentiate into any cell type, including periodontal tissue. The potential of iPSCs extends to correcting periodontal bone defects and forming new periodontal tissues, such as alveolar bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament. However, iPSCs do have limitations, including the need for clinical trials, cell programming production facilities, and optimization of differentiated-cell functionality. Conclusion: The combined use of iPSCs in cell-based tissue engineering holds vast potential for future periodontal treatment strategies.

Background: Aplastic anaemia is a disease that occurs when the body fails to produce enough blood cells. Oral lesions, such as canker sores, are often used as an early marker of this disease condition. In the COVID-19 pandemic era, a teledentistry method is expected to assist in the management of patients with various diseases including aplastic anaemia. Purpose: This case report discusses the management of patients with aphthous-like ulcers related to aplastic anaemia in a 34-year-old woman, based on history, clinical examination, and blood tests through teledentistry. Case: The patient complained of a bleeding wound on the inner left cheek and corner of the left lip that appeared one month ago. There was an ulcer lesion that was bleeding easily in the buccal mucosa sinistra and the angular sinistra, as well as macules lesion on her hand and foot. The complete blood count test exhibits a low platelet level. Case management: The diagnosis was an aphthous-like ulcer related to aplastic anaemia. Patient was treated with topical antiseptic and anti-inflammatory mouthwashes for the oral lesions, as well as collaboration with the medical team. The lesions improved after the patient received a blood transfusion and drug therapy from the internist while she was hospitalized, but the lesions reappeared in other locations in the oral cavity when the platelet level dropped. Conclusion: Management of oral manifestations in patients with aphthous-like ulcers related to aplastic anaemia in the COVID-19 pandemic era can be done through teledentistry. However, this requires sensitivity from the dentist, patient compliance in following instructions, and the involvement of a multidisciplinary approach, such as collaboration with internists to achieve recovery. Delay in detecting and treating aplastic anaemia will lead to death, as in this case.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an oral cancer with a low life expectancy, less than five years after diagnosis. The drug therapy often used for OSCC patients is cisplatin, but it is considered to cause tumour persistence, drug resistance, and high toxicity. Therefore, it is important to test the development of alternative drugs from natural ingredients. One potential ingredient is green chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.). It contains capsaicin that functions as an anticancer agent by suppressing BCa tumorigenesis so that proliferation is inhibited, as well as increasing and preventing p53 antibody mutations that play a role in cancer cell apoptosis. Purpose: This study aimed to compare effectiveness using capsaicin nanoparticle gel from green chilli pepper extract levels of 1% and 3.3% to reduce OSCC nodules. Methods: This study used 20 Rattus norvegicus that were randomly divided into five groups; C- (rat without treatment), C+ (rat induced to 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)), E1 (DMBA exposed and given cisplatin, E2 (rat induced to DMBA and capsaicin extract nanoparticle gel with a concentration of 1%), and E3 (rat induced to DMBA and capsaicin extract nanoparticle gel with a concentration of 3.3%). The data were analysed statistically with the one-way ANOVA and least significance difference (LSD) test. Results: The comparison of mean nodule volume between C+ (5.834 ± 2.77 mm3) with E1 (1.75 ± 0.37 mm3), E2 (1.747 ± 0.36 mm3), and E3 (1.812 ± 0.11 mm3) had a significant difference (p = 0.00, p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Capsaicin nanoparticle gel with green chilli pepper extract at levels of 1% (E2) reduces OSCC nodules by more than gel with green chilli pepper extract at 3.3% (E3) concentration.

Background: According to Riset Kesehatan Dasar (Riskesdas) (2013) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), caries is still a global problem and highly prevalent in Indonesia. Caries is mainly caused by Streptococcus mutans with virulence factors known as glucosyltransferase (GTF). The GTF enzyme contribute to the pathogenesis of caries by converting sucrose to fructose and glucan, which are then used in the formation of biofilms and dental plaques. Natural propolis compounds containing flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and tannins, can inhibit GTF enzyme activity. Purpose: This study aimed to determine an effective concentration of propolis extract for inhibiting the S. mutans GTF enzyme activity. Methods: This study used propolis extract at 14 μg/ mL, 16 μg/m and 1 μg/mL to determine the inhibitory effect on S. mutans GTF enzyme activity. The GTF enzyme were obtained from the supernatant from S. mutans culture centrifugation. The GTF enzyme activity was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to calculate the fructose level. Results: The mean fructose concentration at 14 μg/mL, 16 μg/mL, and 18μg/mL were 3.31%, 1.56%, and 0.29%, respectively. Conclusion: The most effective concentration of propolis extract for inhibiting the effect of S. mutans GTF enzyme activity is 14 μg/mL.